fabric

noun

fab·​ric ˈfa-brik 

1

a

: structure, building

b

: underlying structure : framework

the fabric of society

2

: an act of constructing : erection

specifically : the construction and maintenance of a church building

3

a

: structural plan or style of construction

b

: texture, quality

—used chiefly of textiles

c

: the arrangement of physical components (as of soil) in relation to each other

4

a

: cloth sense 1a

b

: a material that resembles cloth

5

: the appearance or pattern produced by the shapes and arrangement of the crystal grains in a rock

Synonyms

• cloth
• textile

Examples of fabric in a Sentence

The curtains are made of expensive fabric.

scarves made of woven fabrics

the fabric of the community

Recent Examples on the Web

Naturalizer Summer Rhinestone Sandals $85 $40 at Amazon These Naturalizer sandals will dress up your feet with rhinestone accents across the soft fabric upper. —Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2025

All the walls are angled at 50 to 55 degrees for optimal shedding of both snow and wind, and the sil-poly fabric is said to maintain its tautness better than the sil-nylon common on other tent models. —New Atlas, 15 Mar. 2025

Repeat the Same Pattern Using the same pattern in both wallpaper and fabric is a longstanding decorator trick for creating a space that looks put together but not overly busy. —Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Mar. 2025

Or how about a little fabric doll trapped in a glass jar that may or may not be haunted? —Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French fabrique "act of construction, something created or constructed, the created world, structure, construction and maintenance of a church," borrowed from Medieval Latin fabrica, going back to Latin, "process of making something, craft, art, workshop," noun derivative from *fabricus "of a craftsman," from fabr-, faber "craftsman, smith" (perhaps going back to dialectal Indo-European *d^hab^h-r- —perhaps of non-Indo-European origin— whence also Armenian darbin "smith," from *d^hab^h-r-sneh₂) + -icus -ic entry 1

Note: The Latin derivative fabrica may have been shortened from fabrica ars, perhaps literally "smith's craft, smith's place of work." The base *d^hab^h-r- has been compared with Gothic gadaban "to happen, be suitable" and a host of related words (see daft), though the semantic link is tenuous.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing fabric

• fabric softener

Kids Definition

fabric

noun

fab·​ric ˈfab-rik 

1

: the basic structure

the fabric of society

2

: cloth sense 1